Fluctuation of computed tomographic findings in white matter in Alexander's disease

J Child Neurol. 2002 Mar;17(3):227-30. doi: 10.1177/088307380201700316.

Abstract

A Japanese boy developed febrile seizures and gait disturbance at 2 years of age and dysarthria a year later. He had generalized tonic-clonic seizures once or twice a year from the age of 4 years. Brain computed tomography (CT) showed symmetric low-density areas in the white matter of the frontal lobes. However, abnormal CT findings fluctuated occasionally, with no apparent change in clinical manifestations. Clinical evaluation at 9 years of age revealed hyper-reflexia, psychomotor retardation, megalencephaly, and slurred nasal speech. Magnetic resonance imaging showed white matter abnormalities, predominantly in the frontal lobes. He was a heterozygote of the Arg239Cys mutation of the glial fibrillary acidic protein gene and was diagnosed with Alexander's disease. Fluctuation of CT findings in white matter may reflect blood-brain barrier dysfunction in Alexander's disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Alexander Disease / diagnosis*
  • Alexander Disease / genetics
  • Alexander Disease / physiopathology
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / physiology
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging*
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Gene Expression
  • Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / genetics
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Point Mutation / genetics
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

Substances

  • Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein